Exhauster



J 1 1946- c. F. ZlMM ER MANN 2,404,203

EXHAUSTER Filed Aug. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w a J vi 1mm 7 l kl llll I a U. W

- I J I July 16, 1946. c. F. ZI MERMAN'N EXHAUSTER v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 am/1mm: m/

i j w July 16, 1946. c. F. ZIMMERMANN 0 EXHAUSTER 3 sheets-sheet 3 Filed' Aug. 20, 1942 Patented July 16, 1946 2,404,203 EXHAUSTER Carl F.,Zimmerm'ann, Chicago, Ill., a'ssignor to Aerostream Pneumatic Conveyors, -Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporaticn of Illinois Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,538

. Claims. (01. 302-25) The present invention relates to exhausters and is particularly directed to improvements in exhausters of the type wherein a fluid jet such as steam is introduced into a conduit for the purpose of establishing a vacuum in th conduit and inducing flow of air through the conduit to enable the air stream to transport granular materials held in suspension therein. Exhausters of this type are generally well known as parts of conmoving any other part of the e'xh'auster.

as the manifold and the suction chamber and discharge conduit coupling flange that are essentially the same for all operating conditions.

In the basic design of exhausters of this character the different degrees of vacuum to be established, the steam pressure to be used, and other operating conditions often require substantial variations in the contour, size and design of the mixing chamber, throat and discharge tube of the exhauster proper as Well as changes in the angle at which the steam nozzle discharges into the mixing chamber and changes in the interior construction of the nozzle itself. The present apparatus is particularly directed to a device whereby such design changes may be mad in the parts above referred to without in any way affecting the manifold, thesuction chamber, the discharge flange and the connecting frame members. Variations in the angle. at which the nozzle is directed into th suction chamber aretaken care of by different nozzle housings while the mixing chamber, the throat and discharge tube, which together with the suction chamber make up that part of the exhauster called the diffuser tube, have their interior dimensions and contours variable without changing the overall dimensions and the exterior contours; The savings in manufacture and maintenance because of the aforementioned features are numerous. Standard parts for the manifold suction chamber casting, the discharge flange and the frame members may be employed. Also, the patterns for the other parts remain the same, it being necessary only to change the cores thereof to suit the desired design. It is obvious that the quantities of material which must be carried in stock are greatly reduced.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an exhauster of this character wherein elimination of erosive wear on the steam manifold is complete.

It is a further purpose of th invention to provide in an exhauster of the character described a construction wherein the nozzles which direct steam or other fluid from the manifold into the mixing chamber of the eXhauster are protected from abrasion by the material passingthrough the exnauster and are readily accessible from the exterior ofthe exhauster so that they may be removed and replaced without necessity for re- The invention contemplates also that the protecting means by which the nozzles are protected from abrasion may also be readily replaced without disturbing the various parts of the exhauster.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide'in an exhauster of the character described an'improved combination of a suction chamber with the manifold and mixin chamber whereby the efficiency of the exhauster as a whole is materially increased.

The present invention contemplates also as an object an exhauster wherein all of the wear parts ing chamber, the throat and the discharge tube constitute individual elements normally rigidly held in place but readily replaceable while the main joints of the conduit and the manifold remain connected in their usual fashion, the arrangement being such that during the removal and replacement of a part the means connecting the exhauster in the line of the conduit remain to form a cradle or support for the new part until it is clamped in place. i

The features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. It should be understood however that the drawings and description-are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claims. I i I In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an exhauster assembly embodying my invention, certain of the steam jet nozzles being left off for th sake of clearness, and the lower portion of the device being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken lengthwise through'a portion of the exhauster illustrating the manifold construction and'its conthrough the exhauster.

.is so constructed'as to provide a highly efficient vacuum creating and conveying device with facilities whereby the abrasive action of the material i conveyed occasions a minimum amount of shutnection. in the conduit line alongwith the frame members which serve to lock together two edges inserted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the exhauster, certain of the nozzles being left out for the sake of clearness; I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; s

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 1;

' of the conduit between which th exhauster is Fig.7 i a fragmentary sectional View takenon the line 'i'l of Fig. 1, further illustrating the exhauster i Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line is -s of Fig. 3 but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the eight nozzle housings that are embodied in the device;

Fig. '10 is a sectional view on the line |a ic of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view'taken ,onthe line IIII of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the

present invention is embodied in an exhauster,

the purpose of which is to establish a vacuum in a receptacle or conduit which is connected to the inlet side of the exhauster whereby to induce a now of air into, through and out of the receptacle .or'conduit. The exhauster is often required'to serve as a part of the conduit into which it is inserted, and the conduit is used to transport granular materialsiwhich are carried in suspension by the air stream that is caused to flow through the conduit by means of the exhauster. This granular material of course travels through the'exhauster.

One of the principaluses for devices of this character is in the conveying of ashes. Naturally thematerial in the ash may be highly abrasive and it always presents a problem of replacement of parts that become worn or damaged due to the: abrasive action of the material conveyed The present'exhauster down for replacement of parts.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and a. my in vention is shown as mounted in a conduit line consisting of an inlet section It and a discharge section II. A steam manifold. I2 has one face I3 thereof drilled to receive bolts I4 which pass through a flange I5 of the conduit I0 so that the manifold can be attached directly to the coniduit. The manifold I2 has an inlet opening I 6 frame members 2| and 22 extend in parallel relation from the manifold I2 to a discharge flange 23 which is in th'e'form of a split ring and which is provided with threaded holes 24 by which it may be bolted to a flange IIa on the conduit'l I. The discharge flange 23ha's two lugs .25 and 26 in coupling of a conduit to the discharge end of the thereon to which the frame members 2| and 22 are bolted by a plurality of bolts 2'! and 28, the bolts Z'Iserving to attach the frame member ill to the lug 25 and the bolts 28 serving to attach the frame member 22 to the lug 26. The frame members 2I and 22 are constructed of stee channels.

Asuction chamber casting, 29 which'is cylin drical in cross section has a reduced portion 36 that slides into the manifold I2 to abut against the conduit IE! and form a continuation thereof.

This suction chamber casting has an enlarged annular portion 3! which is provided with a multiplicity of rectangular apertures 32 around the periphery thereof. These apertures are uniformly spaced and ;in the present form there are eight of them. The wall around each aperture is recessed as indicated at 33 to provide a seat for a nozzle housing 34 which has a rectangular flange 35 around the periphery thereof. The nozzle housing is also a casting of a material that is designed to resist abrasion.

The nozzle housing is shown in plan View in Fig. 9 and in section in Fig. 10. .The housing has a tubular portion 36 which is adapted to project beyond the end of the suction chamber casting into a mixing chamber 31 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The tubular portion'36 has a cylindrical bore 38 and the bore 38 is enlarged at 39 to receive a packing ring 40 (see Fig. 2). A nozzle 4| extends intothe bore 38 and is connected by a coupling 62' to a length of pipe 43 that leads to a union coupling 4d, one section of which is on the pipe 43 and the other section of which is upon a pipe 45 which is threaded into one of the outlets Ii. It will be evident from the foregoing description that if it is desired to remove a nozzle 4| for purposes of replacement or repair of the nozzle or'of the nozzle housing 34 the coupling 44 is loosened and the housing and nozzle can then be removed or the nozzle itself can be removed while the housing remains in place. The housing protects the exterior of the nozzle from abrasion but of course it does not protect the tip of the nozzle from abrasion due to the passage of steam through it. If a different nozzle is desired due to difierentcharacteristics of the exhauster it is possible to replace the present nozzle without disturbing the rest of the apparatus.v Also, new housings and nozzles to provide a different direction of jet into the mixing-chamber may be applied without disturbing the mounting of the suction chamber casting.

I That part of the exhauster unit that I refer to as the diffuser tube is composed of thesuction chamber 29, a mixing chamber castin 31,

.a throat casting 6| and a dscharge tube casting The mixing chamber 31 is a part of the diffuser Wherethe steam from the nozzles 4| mixes with the material being drawn from the conduit Ill. This mixing chamber is a casting, conical in shape, with its larger end of the same size as the .outlet end of the suction chamber. Both castings 29 and 31 are provided with annular flanges at their meeting ends. The casting 29 ha a flange 46 thereon and the casting 31 has a flange 41 thereon. These two flanges are clamped together by two split ring sections 48 and 49. The split. ring section 48 is the bottom section (see Fig. 1) and is bolted to the frame members 2| and 22 by mean of -a pair of bolts '50 and 5! passing through the frame member 22 and a pair of bolts 52 and 53 passing through the frameplmember 2|. The showing in Fig. 2 illustrates the construction of the split ring 48 and the manner in which the bolts 52 and 53 secure it in placer The bolts 56 and 5| of course secure the other side of the split ring in'the same fashion. The split ring section 49 is a duplicate of the section 48 and the two ring sections are provided with a packing ring 54 to seal the joint between the two flange 46 and 41 on the castings 30 and 31. In order to clamp the two split ring sections 48 and 49 together I provide two clamping lugs 55 and 56 (see Figs. l and 4) at each of the frame members, and these lugs are secured together by bolts 51 which pass through the flanges of the frame members 2| and 22 and which are provided with nuts '56 in order that the lugs 55 and 56 may be drawn together and in turn clamp the split ring sections together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. When the top ring section 49 is clamped in place it is then permanently fastened by means of suitable bolts 59 and passing through each of the frame member 2| and 22 and threading into the section 49.

The small end of the mixing chamber castting 3'| abuts a short cylindrical casting 6| which forms the throat of the diffuser. The inner size of the casting BI is the same as the inner size of the mixing chamber casting 31. The discharge tube casting 62 abuts the other end face of the throat castingfil, the discharge casting 62 being conical in construction and increasing in diameter from the throat casting 6! to the conduit The throat casting 6| and the castings 3'! and 62 are clamped together by means of 'two split ring sections 63 and 64 (see Figs. 1; 3 and 5). The lower ring section 63 is permanently attached to the frame members 2| and 22 by two horizontally extending lugs 65 and the upper section 64 has similar lug 66. The lugs 65 are bolted to the frame members 2| and 22 by bolts 6? and the lugs 66 are similarly bolted to the frame members 2| and 22 by bolts 68. The two rin sections 63 and 64 are clamped together by two bolts 69 and 16 which pass vertically through the lugs 65 and 66. The bolts 69 and 16 are provided with nuts H and "I2. A packing ring 1'3 serves to seal the joints between the castings 31 and 62 on the one hand and the throat casting 6| on the other hand. It will be noted that the top ring section 64 can be removed by taking off the nuts H and 12 and releasing the bolts 68. Thus it is a fairly simple matter to replace a throat casting 6| whenever that is desired. The throat casting being at the point of smallest diameter in the entire exhauster is subject to the greatest wear and therefore should be capable of ready replacement with a minimum amount of difilculty. The present construction makes such replacement possible.

The discharge end of the discharge tube 62 is provided with an exterior rib 14 which seats in a corresponding recess in the discharge flange 23. I have previously described how the discharge flange 23 is in turn connected by means of bolts 24a that pass through a flange on the conduit II and are threaded into the holes 24 in the discharge flange. A packing ring 15 is interposed between the end of the discharge tube 62 and the adjacent face of the conduit The two sections 23a and 23b of the discharge flange 23 are illustrated in Fig. 6 which also illustrates how these two sections are clamped together. Two bolts 16 and 11 having nuts 18 and Hi thereon pass through the flanges of the members 22 and 2|, respectively, and serve to clamp two sets of clamping lugs 80 and 8| against the It is believed the construction of the exhauster will be clear from the foregoing description.

The principal features and advantages lie in the protection of'the manifold by means of the suction chamber casting, the accessibility of the nozzles and their protection by means of the nozzle housings, and the ready access to any section of the exhauster without disturbing the connection between the conduits l6 and II. It is believed to be evident from the foregoing description that the frame members 2| and 22, to-

gether with the manifold l2 and the lower half T of the discharge flange 23, constitute a permanent and rigid connection between the conduits l0 and II. The lower half of the discharge flange 23 coupled with the lower sections 63 and 48 also provideia cradle or support for the several castings 36 and 37 and 6| and 62 so that these castings maybe laid in place and taken out and replaced with a minimum amount of difliculty.

The particular design of the suction chamber and the diffusing tube is such a to permit the nozzles to be advantageously used to direct the discharge from the nozzle into the throat of the exhauster with a minimum loss of available energy. This factor and the protection of the nozzles aiforded by the nozzle housings tend to lengthen the life of the castings H and 6| which bear the brunt of the abrasive action of the material being drawn through the exhauster.

In each individual installation of an exhauster the factors'which determine the particular nozzle that will be used and the particular mixing chamher, throat and discharge tube that will be used may be widely different from the factors ,encountered in another installation. For example, if a much higher vacuum must be maintained in the suction chamber, this does not require any redesign of the suction chamber but it does require changes in the nozzles, mixing chamber, throat and discharge tube. With my invention the basic parts of the exhauster, namely, the,

manifold, the suction chamber casting, the discharge flange and the frame member which connect the discharge flange to the manifold may be the same for a great variety of conditions so long as the conduits in which the exhauster is to be inserted are essentially the same in diameter. Changing conditions therefore in an installation requiring higher or lower vacuum may be made by changing only those parts which have to be changed to get the desired result, namely, the mixing chamber, throat, the discharge tube and the nozzles and their housings.

It is believed to be apparentfrom the foregoing description that I have provided an exhauster which is simple in construction and capable of adaption to a great variety of conditions encountered in individual installations with a minimum amount of change. It is also believed to be evident that the exhauster hereinbefore described is particularly adapted to keep maintenance cost at a low level by cutting down the replacement to only those parts that are actually worn, and

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters V Patent is: r

1 .'In'a steam jet exhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having means on one face thereof for connection to a conduit, oppositely disposedframe members affixed to said manifold and projecting fromsaid manifold in the direction opposite to the conduit,

said frame members having a discharge flange affixedthereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means for at- 1 tachment of a conduit thereto, spaced two-section connecting clamps attached tosaid framev members intermediate the ends thereof, a diffuser tube interposed between the manifold and the discharge flange and having a mixing chamber,

a tubularthroatportionand a tubular discharge portion, said portions being removably supported on said, frame membersby-said clamps and said discharge flange, a suction chamber comprising a tubular member having an inlet end extending into the manifold whereby to protect the inner wall thereof, said tubular member having circumferentially spaced apertures therein, nozzle housings in said apertures and steam jet nozzles connected to the manifold and. extending through said housings andapertures into the interior of the mixing chamber. 4

2. In an exhauster of the character described,

a pressurefluid manifold of ring form, a suction chamber tube having an inlet portion registering with the opening through said manifold, said tube having nozzle mounting apertures peripherally spaced about it, said manifold having outlets therein outside the suction chamber tube and 3 removable nozzlesconnected to said manifold to receive fluid from said outlets, said nozzles extending into the suction chamber tube through 1 said apertures.

3. In an exhauster of the character described, a pressure fluid manifold of ring form, a suction chamber tube having an inlet portion registering with the opening through said manifold, said 1 tube having nozzle mounting'apertures periph- 1 erally spaced about it, [said manifold having out- 1 lets therein outside the suction chamber tube,

removable nozzles connected to said manifold to receive fluid from said outlets, said nozzles extending into the suction chamber tube through 1 said apertures, and nozzle guards mounted in said apertures and shielding the walls of the nozzles from the interior of said tube,

4. In an exhauster of the character described,

1 a pressure fluid manifold of ring ,form, a suction 3 chamber tube having an inlet portion registering with the opening through said manifold, said and removable nozzles connected to said mani- 5. In a steam jet exhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having means on one face thereof for connection to a 1 conduit,.oppositely disposed frame members af 1 fixed to said manifold and projecting from said 6. In a steam jet exhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having means on one face thereof for connection to a conduit, oppositely disposed frame members affixed to said manifold and projecting from said manifold in the direction opposite to the conduit, said frame members having a discharge flange affixed thereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means for at tachment of a conduit thereto, a diffuser tube secured to the frame and extending from the manifold to the discharge flange, and clamping means carried by said frame members securing said diffuser tube to said members, saiddiffuser tube comprising a plurality of tubular sectionsand said clam-ping means comprising split rings covering the joints between said sections. I

'7. In a steam J'etexhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having means on one face thereof for connection to a conduit, oppositely disposed frame members af- 1 tube having nozzle mounting apertures periph- 1 erally spaced about it, said manifold having outlets therein outside the suction chamber tube,

manifold in the directionopposite to the conduit,

said frame members havinga discharge flange afl'ixed theretoat the endsremote from the mani 3 ifold, said discharge flange having means for at fixed to said manifold and projecting from said manifold in the direction opposite to the conduit,

said frame members having a, discharge flange aflixed thereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means forat-l tachment of aconduit thereto, a diffuser tube secured to the frame and extending from the manifold to the discharge flange, said diffuser tube comprising'a tubular suction chamber sec v tion having an inlet portion extending into the manifold ring protecting the inner wall thereof from abrasive action of the material passing through the manifold ring, a conical mixing chamber section abutting said casing, a throat section abutting the mixing chamber section, and

a conical discharge section abutting the throat,

section and extending to thedischarge flange.

8. In asteam jet exhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having meanson one face thereof for connectionto a conduit, oppositely disposed frame members affixed'to said manifold and projecting from, said manifold in the direction opposite to the conduit, said frame members having a discharge flange aflixed thereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means for attachment of a conduit thereto, a diffuser tube secured to the frame and extending from the manifold to the discharge flange, said diffuser tube comprising a tubular suction chamber section having an inlet portion extending into the manifold ring protecting the inner wall'thereof from abrasive action of the material passing through the manifold ring, a conical mixing chamber section abutting said casing, a throat section abutting the mixing chamber section and a conical discharge section abutting the throat section and extending to the discharge flange, said suction chamber section having peripherally spaced nozzle inlets therein and removable nozzle housings in said inlets.

9.-In a steam jet exhaustenof thecharacter 7 manifold in the direction opposite to the, conduit,

said frame members having a discharge flange affixed thereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means for attachment of a conduit thereto, a diffuser tube secured to the frame and extending from the manifold to the discharge flange, said diffuser tube comprising a tubular suction chamber section having an inlet portion extending into the manifold ring protecting the inner wall thereof from abrasive action of the material passing through the manifold ring, a conical mixing chamber section abutting said casing, a throat section abutting the mixing chamber section and a conical discharge section abutting the throat section and extending to the discharge flange, said suction chamber section having peripherally spaced nozzle inlets therein, outlet conduits connected to the manifold at peripherally spacedpoints thereon outside of and around the suction chamber section, and fluid jet nozzles on said conduits extending through said inlets.

10. In a steam jet exhauster of the character described, a steam manifold of ring form having means on one face thereof for connection to a conduit, oppositely disposed frame members affixed to said manifold and projecting from said manifold in the direction opposite to the conduit,

said frame members having a discharge flange aflixed thereto at the ends remote from the manifold, said discharge flange having means for attachment of a conduit thereto, adiffuser tube secured to the frame and extending from the manifold to the discharge flange, said diffuser tube comprising a tubular suction chamber section having an inlet portion extending into the manifold ring protecting the inner wall thereof from abrasive action of the material passing through the manifold ring, a conical mixing chamber section abutting said casing, a throat section abutting the mixing chamber section and a conical discharge section abutting the throat section and extending to the discharge flange, said suction chamber section having peripherally spaced nozzle inlets therein, outlet conduits connected to the manifold at peripherally spaced points thereon outside of and around the suction chamber section, fluid jet nozzles on said conduits extending through said inlets, and nozzle housings in said inlets protecting the portions of the nozzles interiorly of the suction chamber section from abrasion by material passing through said section.

CARL F. ZIMMERMANN. 

